Those who take advantage of McHenry County's dial-a-ride services known as MCRide and MCRide Connect could see higher out-of-pocket costs next year.

Most of the McHenry County Board members whose seats are up next year are planning to run for reelection.

McHenry County’s highest-ranking employee, longtime Administrator Peter Austin, announced Friday that he will retire at the end of the year.

The McHenry County Board could raise the salaries of elected officials – including for its own members – in the coming months.

McHenry County is starting its budget process from an unenviable place, where expenses are expected to outpace revenue, even if the county takes the maximum property tax increase it can.

People interested in running in the March 17 primary election for McHenry County offices can get their packets from the privacy of their own homes starting Tuesday.

McHenry County has purchased software to help keep judge's personal information off the internet.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office will partner with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to place a deputy in the Woodstock DCFS office for three years.

McHenry County Clerk Joe Tirio publicly made the case for a raise of about 35% for whoever wins next year's election for the clerk seat. Tirio has announced he's running.

Not long after launching a landlord engagement program, Home of the Sparrow was named the McHenry County Community Development Partner of the Year.

A zoning hearing was called off over a controversial slaughterhouse near Wonder Lake has been called off after a new wrinkle was discovered.

McHenry County Division of Transportation sign shop supervisor Andrew Rose started at the division full-time in 1982.

To fill what's expected to be a growing need for memory care, the McHenry County-operated Valley Hi nursing home near Woodstock opened its new memory care unit.

The McHenry County Board approved a Woodstock-area slaughterhouse that raised objections from neighbors and nearby Hartland Township officials.

Opponents of a proposed slaughterhouse near Woodstock made last pleas to the McHenry County Board to vote down the plans when it takes up the matter Tuesday.

Potential cuts to county jobs and programs, in addition to delays in capital projects, loom over the McHenry County Board as it begins preparations for next year’s budget and property tax levy.

The proprietors of Sunberry Farm near Wonder Lake want to build a slaughterhouse. But people living nearby have twice filled a county conference room – and several neighbors have retained an attorney – to oppose the plans.

The McHenry County Board has voted to require drivers to slow down on a trio of roads, overriding two negative recommendations from the transportation committee.

A McHenry County Board committee voted against three of four proposed speed limit reductions, but the full board could override those votes. At least one local police chief wants the one is his suburb.

A slaughterhouse proposal near Woodstock is headed to the McHenry County Board - but it’s not without opposition from nearby residents and Hartland Township.

McHenry County property owners should be getting their latest property tax bills in the mail by the end of the week, though some have already expressed sticker shock about the bills that have arrived.

Carolyn Campbell began as a volunteer for schools and the McHenry County Conservation District. Now she's on the county board and an influential leader.

Several McHenry County roads could soon see speed-limit reductions, though a county board committee recommended against a majority of the proposed changes.

McHenry County's only I-90 interchange is at Route 23 in Marengo and opened five years ago. The land around it remains mostly agricultural but Marengo aims to bring new development there.

Marengo High School District 154 is court ordered to pay back nearly $364,000 to taxpayers filed a lawsuit claiming the school district levied an “excessive” amount in 2022, according to court documents.

A few hundred people protested President Donald Trump and Elon Musk Saturday in traditionally Republican-leaning Richmond and Harvard.

Mike Shorten is a McHenry County Board member and is also now the supervisor-elect of Nunda Township. He plans to hold both offices; longtime township government critic Bob Anderson called on Shorten to resign from the county board.

With remaining votes reported in the April 1 local election, did any results change?

The McHenry County Mental Health Board has parted ways with its executive director, Leonetta Rizzi.

The Grafton Township Board has been run by Republicans for years. But Tuesday, three of four seats went to the Democrats. School District 158, also Huntley-based, also saw a shift in this election.

Write-in votes and outstanding mail-in ballots in McHenry County local elections might not be counted until April 15.

Some Illinois inmates deemed unfit for trial or not guilty by reason of insanity will soon be housed in the McHenry County jail.

McHenry County might soon house “forensic detainees” in the county jail from other jurisdictions. That includes those who are unfit to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity.

Sean Cratty was ahead by one vote on primary election night in the Grafton Township board GOP primary. He extended that to four votes in the final tally.

Terri Greeno, among the current class of winners of the Northwest Herald's Women of Distinction, is a McHenry County Board member, businesswoman and an advocate for job training and groups that help children.

Mike Shorten just won another term on the McHenry County Board. But he's running in Tuesday's GOP primary for Nunda Township supervisor against incumbent Leda Drain, and intends to do both jobs if he wins.

Over objections from nearby residents, the McHenry County Board approved a gravel pit near Marengo late Tuesday. But it won’t have a ready-mix plant on site.

The McHenry County Board is set to decide the fate of a potential gravel pit and ready-mix plant near Marengo that many area residents oppose.

McHenry County Board Chair Mike Buehler, who just was reelected to a second term in November, recalled some of the largest stories and successes of the year in his State of the County address Thursday.

McHenry County officials are considering whether the county should buy a building that’s across the street from the courthouse in Woodstock.

Renovations and additions will be made to the McHenry County Department of Health building in Crystal Lake after it received city council approval.

The McHenry County Board narrowly approved a solar farm, south of Thayer Road and east of Queen Anne Road.

Woodstock is getting closer to getting a Metra rail yard that would be moved from Crystal Lake. Officials say the change would benefit both towns and Metra UP-Northwest riders.

The Chicago regional public transportation system is facing a fiscal cliff without new funding. Where does McHenry County fit into the funding picture?

McHenry County voters approved a higher sales tax last year that was supposed to provide more money for mental health services. So far that hasn't happened and the mental health board wrote that voters were "inadvertently misled."

Take a look back at some of the biggest news stories of 2024 in the McHenry County area.

A look back at some of photojournalist Gregory Shaver's favorite pictures of the month in the Northwest Herald for December.

Despite Crystal Lake's objections, McHenry County Board approved a zoning change that paves the way for a self-storage facility near city limits.

Crystal Lake objected to a storage facility. The county board might wind up voting it down.

Here are the official results for the 2024 November election for the McHenry County Board and referendum questions for McHenry County, the village of Cary, the Marengo Park District and Harvard Fire Protection District.